Milo:
Sitting in the conference room at Haneul Tower, flipping through the thick script of The Emperor’s Sword, I could barely wrap my head around everything the director, Han Dong-hyuk, had just thrown at us. The story was massive—set in a fictionalized version of Joseon Korea, with all the political drama, love triangles, and betrayals you’d expect from a historical epic. It was intense, with the Emperor, his top general, and a new concubine caught in a whirlwind of power, love, and deception.
General Choi Ji-hoon, the character I’d be playing, was the Emperor’s right-hand man. A fierce warrior who valued loyalty and duty above all else, he finds himself falling for Lady Han Seol-ah, the Emperor’s new concubine. That’s where everything starts to unravel. The Emperor, ruthless and calculating, becomes increasingly volatile, and the Queen—ever watchful and scheming—plots to bring the entire palace to its knees.
This role was a game-changer, but it was definitely going to have its challenges. It wasn’t just about the elaborate fight sequences—though there were plenty—but also about embodying the emotional depth and inner turmoil of a man torn between duty and forbidden love.
The table read was a mix of excitement and intimidation. Kim Hyun-jin, a veteran actor with a decade of experience, was playing the Emperor. He was effortlessly commanding, his voice carrying the weight of authority even in casual read-throughs. Watching him felt like attending a masterclass in acting—every word and gesture perfectly calibrated. Then there was Seo Ji-eun, a household name known for her elegance and poise. Cast as the cunning Queen Min Seo-yun, she delivered her lines with razor-sharp precision, exuding both grace and a quiet menace that made her character unforgettable. Shin Eun-ha, the youngest among us but already with several dramas under her belt, was cast as Lady Han. Despite being relatively new, she radiated intensity. Her raw, emotive performance made it clear she wasn’t just here to fill a role—she was going to leave a mark.
Then there was me, the new guy trying to find his footing. Sure, I had a name in the music world, but stepping into acting felt like jumping into an entirely different universe. These pros had years of experience, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I even belonged here. Still, I wasn’t about to back down. I was determined to give it everything I had and prove I could hold my own.
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Dong-hyuk, the director, only stopped us every now and then to give us some pointers, but he seemed happy overall. By the time we finished, I was feeling pretty good about it all. Until the director brought up the one thing I’d been dreading: changing my look for the role.
General Choi was supposed to look intense and brooding, and apparently, my signature bleached-blond hair wasn’t cutting it. They wanted me to dye it dark and grow it out longer too—throw in some extensions for that full-on warrior vibe. The thing is, this wasn’t how they described the character in the concept I’d been given. General Choi was supposed to be clean-cut, but now they wanted me looking like I’d just stepped out of a battlefield, all rugged and rough around the edges.
Honestly, it threw me off. I’d spent so long with this look, the blond hair was practically part of my identity at this point. Changing it felt weird, but I knew it was part of the job. To really nail this role, I’d have to leave behind everything I was comfortable with.
Before I could dwell on it too much, Shin Eun-ha walked up, all smiles, holding out her script. “Milo, I’m such a big fan!” she said, her voice so genuine it caught me off guard. “Could you sign this for me? I’m so excited we’ll be working together.”
I blinked, processing her words. Eun-ha, one of the stars of the show, wanted my autograph? It didn’t make any sense. If anything, I should’ve been the one asking her for an autograph. She was leagues ahead of me. Still, I wasn’t about to say no. I took the script and signed it, trying to keep it cool. “Thanks, Shin Eun-ha-ssi. I’m really looking forward to this.”
Before I could think too much about how surreal the whole thing was, someone else cleared their throat. I looked up to see two women approaching. The first one introduced herself as Kim Nara, one of the producers, and the second was Lim Seon-mi, the 1st Assistant Director. They had my schedule for horse training.
“Horse training?” I asked, a little surprised.
Nara nodded. “Time is money, Milo. We need to get you ready as soon as possible. You’ll start in two days.”
Seon-mi handed me a folder with all the details. “You’ll be training with Orla O'Connell. She’s new to the team but highly recommended.”
The second I heard the name Orla, my heart skipped a beat.
It couldn’t be her, right? I hadn’t even asked for her last name on the plane, and yet… O'Connell? That was not what I expected. Could it really be the same Orla?